J.R.R. Tolkien is now recognized as one of the greatest writers of the twentieth century for his masterpiece, The Lord of the Rings (written during a period from the end of the thirties to the early fifties). As an Oxford Professor and eminent medievalist, he wrote out of what he knew about Old English, Old Norse, and Middle English literature. As a contemporary of T.S. Eliot, George Orwell, Graham Greene, Evelyn Waugh, and other modernists, he wrote out of what he had lived through. The course will trace the tension between the exile--the wraecca--and the community, otherness and heroism, identity and marginalization, revenge and forgiveness.

To locate The Lord of the Rings within a broader historical and literary context, we will trace the development of Tolkien's art, beginning with The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings as a mythology for England and following up with The Silmarillion. Along the way we will investigate his works on fantasy and mythmaking, such as "Mythopoiea," "Leaf by Niggle," and "On Fairy-Stories." Clearly evident will be his interest in medievalnessóespecially the Old English Beowulf. Cassettes and films of and about Tolkien and his writings will supplement readings and discussions.

Requirements: Class attendance is mandatory; your grade will be based on class participation/quizzes AND a design-your-own contract (equivalent to 2 essays (5-7 pages each); see, for example, Student Web Pages; midterm and a final examination).

Spotted by a former Tolkien student on rec.humor.funny: Recently one of my friends, a computer wizard, payed me a visit. >As we were talking I mentioned that I had recently installed Windows 95 on my PC, I told him how happy I was with this operatingsystem and showed him the Windows 95 CD. To my surprise he threw >it into my micro-wave oven and turned on the oven. Instantly I got >very upset, because the CD had become precious to me, but he said:>'Do not worry, it is unharmed.' After a few minutes he took the CD >out, gave it to me and said: 'Take a close look at it.' To my >surprise the CD was quite cold to hold and it seemed to be heavier >than before. At first I could not see anything, but on the inner >edge of the central hole I saw a inscription, an inscription finer >than anything I have ever seen before. The inscription shone >piercingly bright, and yet remote, as if out of a great depth:>>12413AEB2ED4FA5E6F7D78E78BEDE8209450920F923A40EE10E510CC98D444AA08E1324>

>'I cannot understand the fiery letters,' I said. >'No but I can,' he said. 'The letters are Hex, of an ancient mode, >but the language is that of Microsoft, which I shall not utter>here. But in common English this is what it says:'>